The comments section all think I'm a really good person.

Hibiki Tachibana is a big eater who can eat the equivalent of three people's portions in one meal. In fact, she only ate about half full, but it relieved the burning hunger in her stomach, and her expression relaxed a little.

Because her abilities could easily injure others, and because Asagami Shinku developed a habit of being nocturnal after gaining her powers, she had a rare single room so as not to disturb the other children.

Hibiki Tachibana was naturally assigned to her own room.

Hibiki Tachibana sat on the edge of the bed, and upon hearing Asagami Shinku's explanation, she was quite incredulous: "...So if you leak electricity, it's okay if I get shocked?"

She had genuinely been shocked twice by this guy; it hurt terribly, and her hair seemed to stand on end.

Asagami Shinku drew the blackout curtains in the room, carefully checked them to make sure no light leaked out, and then turned on the lights.

With the help of the lamp, she was finally able to see Tachibana Hibiki's face clearly, which she hadn't been able to see clearly under the dim streetlights before.

The flaxen-haired girl, radiating an unpleasant aura and appearing gloomy no matter how you looked at her, was squinting her golden eyes, seemingly waiting for a reasonable answer.

The other person looked to be about the same age as her, and had a tense expression as if she owed her money, which annoyed Asagami Mako for quite a while.

So she replied rather irritably, "I'm already being kind by taking you in, why are you being so picky?"

"If I remember correctly, you invited me, right?" Tachibana Hibiki's forehead veins bulged. She really didn't get along with this guy. She had only exchanged a few words when she felt her temper about to explode. "Who asked you to take me in?"

“If you really want to end up on the streets, you can still go out now,” Asagami Makoto said, turning around to look for a suitable phone data cable for Tachibana Hibiki.

"Tsk."

Hibiki Tachibana was able to take a short break from her verbal sparring with Shinku Asagami. In the meantime, she sat on Shinku Asagami's bed and observed the small room.

The first impression it gives is that it's a mess.

However, it's not as spacious as Koizumi Saki's room. Asagami Shinku's room is limited in space, making it difficult to move around freely. Although it's messy, you can still see what you want at a glance; the mess is quite orderly.

For example, the phone data cable and plug were found in less than ten seconds.

The other person threw it over, and Tachibana Hibiki caught it, but she still got slapped in the face by the dangling data cable.

Asagami Shinku then began to mock her.

"You bastard..." Tachibana Hibiki muttered, deciding to charge her phone first and then settle the score with Asagami Shinku.

It's strange, really. This guy has an even worse temper than hers, and he looks incredibly fierce, but after spending a short time with him, she doesn't actually find him that annoying.

It's roughly like giving people the impression of a cat.

She has a bad temper and is extremely arrogant, but because she is good-looking, she is able to gain the love of others.

Asagami Shinku has an unfriendly face, with sharp eyes that always seem to be glaring at her with displeasure, and an inexplicable fierce aura. But in reality, she possesses an androgynous beauty that transcends gender.

Handsome, but also delinquent.

This word perfectly describes the girl.

and……

Hibiki Tachibana's gaze shifted to the cat ears standing up on Asagami Shinku's head.

The other person had fluffy, dark purple cat ears that matched her hair color. And the downy hair on her ears looked much softer than her hair.

There's also a tail that reaches almost to her calves, with a tuft of white down at the tip. When Asagami Shinku is in a good mood, her tail wags as if it has a mind of its own, giving away even more of her emotions.

Despite his complaints, the other person was actually somewhat relieved by Tachibana Hibiki's arrival.

Hibiki Tachibana herself didn't have such strong interpersonal skills, but Kita Kirihara did. With Kita Kirihara's help, she could tell that her new friend was actually in a good mood.

While he said he was in a good mood, he was actually relieved. The other side had probably been feeling tense and uneasy because of Jun Furuhashi's absence, and now that a strong outsider like Hibiki Tachibana had arrived, they could finally put their minds at ease.

Therefore, even Hibiki Tachibana became a bit more enthusiastic.

Although it's not obvious, this is indeed the greatest kindness that Asagami Shinku can show.

They brought each other back, gave them food, and even provided them with a bed to sleep in!

Isn't that friendly?

The two, who seemed to have a surprisingly good rapport, exchanged names and, as expected, brought up the story of the hero who was in charge of this area but had not yet returned.

Asagami Shinku grew up in this children's care facility, which had a difficult period before the animal trainer became famous.

Her ability to read people was honed during that time.

Even now, her observational skills are still better than most people's.

Based on Hibiki Tachibana's previous behavior, she was able to confirm that the other party was not an ordinary person.

Maybe they know something.

So she asked Tachibana Hibiki about the animal trainer.

After the lights were turned off and everything was pitch black, Asagami Shinku suddenly spoke up: "Tachibana."

"...What?" Hibiki Tachibana, who was lying on another bed and unable to fall asleep because of her worries, responded rather impatiently.

The sound of turning over.

Hibiki Tachibana turned her head and saw a pair of cat eyes that were glowing in the darkness, wide and slightly uneasy.

"You said you're from Tokyo... have you heard anything about animal tamers?"

The other party asked this question, and then added, trying to cover up the truth, "But don't get me wrong, I just want to know why that guy hasn't come back for so long."

He had said he was going to a meeting and to sort out a small problem with his partner, but he hasn't come back for a long time.

Hibiki Tachibana suddenly got stuck in the shell.

She didn't know how to answer, so she gave a vague reply: "You mean that top-tier one? I don't know either..."

Having received Hibiki Tachibana's answer, Asagami Shinku was somewhat disappointed, but still added disdainfully, "How come you don't know anything?"

She turned back, and the next second, the phone on the bedside table lit up.

Asagami Shinku has almost no other contact information. Apart from Furuhashi, the emails sent to her inbox are basically just spam text messages.

She originally intended to turn it off, but somehow she picked it up instead.

Her casual gaze lingered on the email, on the most prominent word—

--"funeral".

Asakami Shinku's breath hitched.

100. Ideals and aspirations decay.

Asagami Shinku is sixteen years old.

The future next-generation super hero, [Heavenly Punishment], will be recommended by the Tower of Civilization to gain admission to the National Hero High School in a month, and will become a member of the "National Group" as mentioned by the viewers in the live chat.

Then, at the age of seventeen, he lost his left eye and half of his lower leg due to a mission.

Aside from that, her life hasn't been particularly smooth sailing.

Asagami Makoto, who was abandoned by her parents because of her poor health, was sent to the nearest childcare facility by a kind person.

Although the director here is an admirable, well-mannered, and kind person who is willing to give almost everything for the children, it does not mean that childcare facilities like this can raise children steadily.

First and foremost is the most important, and also the most lacking, funding.

In the third year of the facility's establishment, the director found it increasingly difficult to receive external funding. The kind-hearted local tycoon who had initially been willing to sponsor the facility passed away in an accident, and coupled with some less-than-favorable rumors surrounding the facility, no one was willing to provide further assistance.

Furthermore, the hospital director suffers from a rare chronic disease that, despite its chronic nature, still poses a threat to her life. This chronic disease gradually erodes her life and requires a considerable amount of medical expenses each month.

The facility, which could still operate on the savings of the director, is now facing a harsh winter.

Asagami Makoto still remembers that back then, the older kids would seize every opportunity to exchange their labor for Weibo wages.

It's usually during holidays that people have some minced meat on their plates. At other times, you won't see any meat on the table.

Not only that, but the food was not enough to feed every child. Not only others, but she herself would occasionally wake up from her dreams because of hunger, her mouth wet with drool.

At that time, Asagami Shinku longed to grow up. She believed that as long as she became a stronger adult, she could escape hunger and contempt.

At least we can give those brats who always laugh at the kids in the facility a good beating.

She just waited to grow up in a daze.

Then one day, the oldest child in the facility went missing.

On his way home from work, he took a shortcut and passed by the river. He was then dragged down by something underwater.

She went out to look for her with her best friend, Jun Furuhashi, and found the girl's mutilated body by the river.

Jun Furuhashi didn't have time to cover her eyes.

Surprisingly, Asagami Shinku did not feel any fear.

Despite facing that once-familiar face, now gnawed away to reveal its white bones, she could only subconsciously stare at its empty eyes and exposed gums.

Then, Junzai Furuhashi, who was next to her, finally realized what was happening and quickly covered her eyes with his hands.

However, she had already seen it.

Jun Furuhashi's palms were covered in sweat.

It was summer, and after a night, the corpse had begun to emit a faint, subtle odor. Asagami Makoto's nose wasn't blocked, so the scent of death seeped into her nostrils as well.

She did not tremble, nor was she afraid.

Asagami Shinku simply watched, smelled, and sensed death with such tranquility.

Then, I deeply felt my own despicable nature.

She thought that perhaps this was a kind of relief.

They no longer need to endure endless suffering, nor do they need to carry the label of "abandoned child" through life, nor do they need to face the so-called future.

At least I will never go hungry or be afraid again.

but……

Why are Guqiao's palms so damp?

This was a warm liquid that could no longer be explained simply by sweating; it seeped through the gaps between the fingers, then trickled down the face, becoming icy cold.

Asagami Shinku was not afraid of a corpse that could never wake up again.

But she realized that before she could say more than a few words to this person, the one who had always answered her gently had completely disappeared from the world.

She wasn't afraid.